longevity of self-cultivation

Chapter 131

Jiyao Lingjun is good at divination, but in his life, except when he started to learn divination, he did a lot of divination. You don't want to easily divination and fortune-telling for others.

This time he was willing to divination this hexagram for Mo Changsheng, firstly to return the cause and effect of the longevity pill, and secondly, because of the request of many high-level monks living in the worry-free secret realm.

Although the high-level monks in the worry-free secret realm have never cared much about outside affairs, since several elders in the worry-free secret realm died together 50 years ago, the high-ranking monks in the worry-free secret realm have paid more and more attention to it. Things outside of the secret realm.

However, what they are concerned about is only the ranking of the major sects, whether there is a candidate who can take over the sect's head, and there are disciples of Hunyuan Linggen and pseudo Hunyuan Linggen.

Of course, there are too few Hunyuan Linggen and pseudo Hunyuan Linggen disciples that have appeared in the past 50 years. Reincarnation disk, and then notify them.

Although Jiyao Lingjun has heard the name of the reincarnation disk and knows the function of the reincarnation disk—it can reverse time and change fate—but the Xiaoyao Secret Realm is too dangerous, and few people can come out of the Xiaoyao Secret Realm alive. Can you really take out the reincarnation disk?

It's just ridiculous and a waste of effort, that's all.

It's just that Lingjun Jiyao couldn't say these words, he could only exhaust his hundred years of cultivation to divination for Mo Changsheng.

As for why Mo Changsheng seems to have guessed the Zongmen's plan, knowing the Zongmen's harshness towards Hunyuan and pseudo-Hunyuan Linggen monks, he would take the initiative to find divination, this is beyond Jiyao Lingjun's guess.

However, no matter what Mo Changsheng thought, Jiyao Lingjun's hexagram was finally completed two hours later.

"Good luck." Jiyao Lingjun paused for a moment, as if he was a little surprised, he took the gossip plate for Mo Changsheng's divination in his hand, read it carefully several times, and raised his head to look deeply at Mo Changsheng With a glance, he said, "Great auspiciousness, the best auspiciousness."

However, he did not congratulate Mo Changsheng this time.

Mo Changsheng raised his eyebrows slightly, and walked out of the divination formation. There was no joy on his face, he just bowed slightly, and then took out a pill formula from the storage ring, and said: "There is Mr. Lao Ling, this pill formula is considered to be a pill." Longevity's thank you gift, Lord Ling has spent a hundred years of spiritual power for longevity."

Jiyao Lingjun took the pill and took a look. It was the pill of Haoyue Pill used by high-ranking monks to restore spiritual power.

He was silent for a moment, and did not refuse, his face was pale, but Dan Fang waved his hand slightly.

Mo Changsheng thought that Jiyao Lingjun was too weak, and he just ruined the cultivation of his only remaining disciple yesterday, so he had to practice again, so he didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Mo Changsheng himself was not very willing to stay in Yaofeng, so he thanked Lord Jiyao here, and left.

Feng Lieyang didn't go out this time to see him off.

He is different from Mo Changsheng, he understands how his master respects etiquette, even if Mo Changsheng is just a junior, or a junior who just had an enmity with Huanfeng, the master shouldn't just wave his hand and drive people away without saying a word.

Feng Lieyang could only guess one reason why his master was so rude.

"Master, this time the master spent too much..." Effort and cultivation?

Feng Lieyang hadn't finished asking, when he heard a "pop", the gossip plate that was originally held by Lingjun Jiyao shattered, split into two halves, and fell to the ground.

Feng Lieyang was stunned, and saw Jiyao Lingjun spit out three mouthfuls of life essence blood one after another, the spiritual power in his body was greatly reduced, and his foundation was unstable.

"Master! Master!"

Feng Lieyang was in a hurry, but his cultivation level was no better than that of Lord Jiyao, so he had to take out many magic weapons and spirit stones on his body, and set up a spirit-gathering formation for Lord Jiyao, so that he could recover as soon as possible.

However, despite Feng Lieyang's swift action, after allowing Lingjun Jiyao to rest for a day and a night, he finally stabilized his cultivation and prevented his cultivation from continuing to decline. At this moment, Lingjun Jiyao has also lost a lot of cultivation.

It far exceeded his expected hundred-year cultivation base.

"Early stage of void refinement." Lingjun Jiyao closed his eyes, then opened them again, "My cultivation has regressed from the perfection of void refinement to the early stage of void refinement."

Then he looked down at the gossip plate that was broken in two, and murmured: "When the moon is full, it will lose money, when the water is full, it will overflow, and things will be reversed when they are extreme. Whether there is a good life or not, it is a pity, a sigh, a sorrow!"

Feng Lieyang's heart was pounding when he heard it, he looked down at the gossip plate that was broken in two, and couldn't help asking: "Didn't Master say that it is auspicious? How could it be..." Cherish, sigh, sad, These three words are not well-intentioned words.

Jiyao Lingjun closed his eyes and remained silent.

Feng Lieyang immediately understood that he had guessed correctly.He didn't care about Mo Changsheng's life or death, but that person did.

Feng Lieyang pursed his lips, and asked pleadingly: "If you dare to ask Master, can you find a solution?"

Jiyao Lingjun opened his eyes and stared at Feng Lieyang for a long time. Seeing that Feng Lieyang did not dodge or dodge, he vowed to ask the truth. Then he opened his mouth and said: "The number of Dayan is fifty, and its use is nine out of forty. Go to one. The one that escapes is a variable, a glimmer of life. It's just..."

It's just that he only made a divination for Mo Changsheng. The cultivation base that was originally in the perfect stage of refining the void has abruptly dropped to the early stage of refining the void, and it is still not very stable; moreover, his gossip plate has been broken, which is a warning from the heavens, making him unable to do it again. Do divination.

With all these difficulties, where should one go to find that glimmer of life?

However, Feng Lieyang couldn't guess what Jiyao Lingjun hadn't finished speaking, he was relieved when he heard the words, and a rare smile appeared on Bing Cube's face, and said: "Since this gossip disk has been broken, why don't Lie Yang deal with it? "

Jiyao Lingjun took a deep look at Feng Lieyang.

Feng Lieyang explained calmly: "That's his younger brother, Lie Yang can't ignore it."

Lingjun Jiyao sighed in his heart, closed his eyes and said: "Send things over, don't talk too much."

Feng Lieyang got up to thank him, took his things and left.

He wanted to go back quickly, although his mother, Feng Qianhuan, claimed that no one was allowed to intervene in the matter of recultivation, and that she could just retreat and recultivate herself, and quickly recover her cultivation, but Feng Lieyang obviously couldn't be completely at ease.Feng Qianhuan's inner demon seems to be still there, Feng Lieyang can't ignore it.

And the master's cultivation base has been greatly reduced, and Feng Lieyang has to take care of him.

Calculated in this way... Feng Lieyang frowned, and he didn't know when he would have time to find Mo Changyou.

Mo Changsheng was returning from a visit to Ziyan Peak, and by the way he asked about Liu Furong.

It was only now that he found out that after Liu Furong knew that Mo Changyou had formed the alchemy, she began to retreat and work hard to form the alchemy.

On Ziyan Peak, Mo Changsheng did not see Daoist Ziyan who had hit the stage of transforming into a god, but only Daojun Ling who had conceived a baby.

Ling Daojun obviously knew what happened two days ago, and his mind was still on Ziyan Daojun, who was attacking the stage of transforming gods. Seeing this, he sighed slightly and solemnly apologized to Mo Changsheng before telling Mo Changsheng that what happened two days ago Mr. Zi Yandao didn't know anything about it.

"At the critical moment when my wife was advancing, Ling had no choice but to keep it a secret for the time being." Ling Daojun said, "Besides, Ling knew from Xiaoyou Liu that Changyou had already advanced to the Golden Core Stage, so the one he found from Senior Brother Lie Yang must not be a real person. , so after thinking about it for a while, I didn't go to stop it."

As for the fact that Mo Changsheng rushed over later, Ling Daojun also heard about it at that time.It's just that if it was Mo Changyou who came, Ling Daojun would rush over to support his wife's disciple, but it was Mo Changsheng who came... Naturally, Ling Daojun couldn't find a reason to leave his wife who was advancing to support Mo Changsheng.

Mo Changsheng didn't come here this time to find fault.Of course he also understood that neither Ling Daojun nor Ziyan Daojun had the responsibility to help him.As for Feng Lieyang going to perform the double cultivation ceremony with the fake Mo Changyou, if Ziyan Daojun knew about it, he would naturally stop it, but Ling Daojun...whether he goes or not, others will not think he is wrong.

Mo Changsheng just smiled: "Fellow Daoist didn't do anything wrong, so there is no need to apologize." Seeing Ling Daojun startled, he continued, "Mo Mou came this time just to give a gift, thank you Fellow Daoist and Senior Ziyan for taking care of my brother. As for Others, Mo Mou has nothing to ask for. But Mo Mou will go to Xiaoyao Secret Realm for a walk in the future, if he can't return safely..."

Ling Daojun immediately understood the purpose of Mo Changsheng's visit this time, and solemnly said: "Regardless of whether fellow Taoists can come back safely this time, Changyou is the disciple of Ling and his wife. Ling and his wife should naturally take care of Changyou, let Changyou Cultivate freely, as for Taoist companions... as long as Changyou likes it, if he doesn't like it, Ling and his nephew will also block those who don't like it."

Only then did Mo Changsheng feel relieved, put the gift he brought on the table, and left.

After the people left, Ling Daojun picked up the storage bag to see——

Ten fairy stones.

Ling Daojun was overjoyed, and took the storage bag and rushed into Ziyan Daojun's retreat.

With these ten immortal stones, Taoist Ziyan's advancement to transform into a god will surely go smoothly without hindrance!

Mo Changsheng only met Feng Lieyang after he bid farewell to Ziyan Peak and inquired about Liu Furong.

He originally wanted to regard Feng Lieyang as air, but Feng Lieyang regarded him as air. After seeing him, he threw the Bagua plate that was broken in half, then turned and left.

Mo Changsheng: "..."

He carefully looked at the two halves of the gossip disk, and his expression became more serious.

Auspicious phase.

That's what Jiyao Lingjun said after divination for him.

But now, the gossip plate that Jiyao Lingjun used to divination him has broken into two halves.

Good luck, Mo Changsheng sighed in his heart, he was afraid that after good luck, there would be great misfortune.

Just like the former Xiaoyao Sanren, he was unrestrained and unrestrained all his life, with amazing talent and extraordinary luck, but he died directly under the first sky thunder when he crossed the catastrophe and ascended. No.

Will he do the same?

Mo Changsheng directly crushed the gossip plate that was broken in half in his hand, and the powder was scattered with the wind, and soon disappeared.

On the last day, Mo Changsheng took a look at Lord Jiaolong who was still wondering if he was "terminally ill", smiled slightly, got up and went to the main peak to look for Zhuge Yao.

Master Jiaolong immediately followed after hearing this.

Are you kidding me?Zhuge Yao is the person that Master Jiaolong fears the most, how could he not follow?

He must follow closely, lest his longevity be deceived by that person's rhetoric again!

Mo Changsheng was not surprised by this, he only had a headache for a moment, he put the little golden snake in his purse, hung it on his waist, and left.

After a quarter of an hour.

Zhuge Yao obviously didn't expect Mo Changsheng to come to see him, surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he came out to greet him himself.

Mo Changsheng smiled when he saw him: "Why do you need to greet Zhuge in person? After all, you are already the head, so there is no need to be like this."

Zhuge Yao's previous joy was immediately defeated and dissipated when he heard Mo Changsheng call him "Master Zhuge".

It wasn't because Mo Changsheng's words frightened him away from his joy, but because of Mo Changsheng's address, he suddenly realized that his current status was not good for Mo Changsheng.

Zhuge Yao felt bitter in his heart, and said dryly: "It's fine for others to come. If you come to Changsheng, you will be personally welcomed by your brother."

Mo Changsheng doesn't like to say polite words very much, and Zhuge Yao originally had acquaintance with him, and the relationship between the two is not too shallow, but thinking of Ao Musheng's previous life, it was Zhuge Yao who betrayed him, and the matter of Feng Lieyang's double cultivation ceremony Zhuge Yao never told him, and he just didn't feel very comfortable.

Mo Changsheng sighed slightly, and said bluntly: "Changsheng came this time to inquire about the master, whether the fake Hunyuan spirit root can enter the secret realm of happiness?"

Zhuge Yao frowned slightly, and while leading Mo Changsheng into the hall, he said, "Of course it's impossible. Could it be that Changsheng has friends with fake Hunyuan spirit roots around him, and wants to enter the Xiaoyao Secret Realm? It's just the danger of the Happy Secret Realm. As we all know, besides the real Hunyuan Spiritual Root, anyone who enters the Xiaoyao Secret Realm will die, so Changsheng should persuade that friend not to waste his efforts."

Mo Changsheng stopped in his tracks.

Zhuge Yao thought he was talking too seriously, so he hurriedly said, "Of course, if the friend of Changsheng is willing to join the sect, enter the Xiaoyao Secret Realm on behalf of the sect, and promise to give the reincarnation disk and Ling Xiaoyao that he got from the Xiaoyao Secret Realm If the key to the recognition of the master of the secret realm is given to Zongmen, Zongmen is willing to try to improve the spiritual root qualifications of that friend of Changsheng, so that he can become a real Hunyuan spiritual root."

It was only today that Mo Changsheng discovered that he rushed to enter the Xiaoyao Secret Realm in a hurry, but he forgot that only Hunyuan Linggen could enter the Xiaoyao Secret Realm, so he came to Zhuge Yao.

He looked at Zhuge Yao for a long time before he opened his mouth and said, "If I only want a thousand-year-old earth element spirit bead, what price will I have to pay?"

Zhuge Yao was startled, and said, "That friend of Changsheng only needs one thousand-year-old earth element spirit bead?"

After thinking for a while that he didn't have such a friend, what he lacked was himself, Mo Changsheng naturally shook his head.

Zhuge Yao's heart relaxed, he pondered for a long time, and then he gritted his teeth and said, "Yes."

Mo Changsheng looked at him: "Then what price does Changsheng need to pay?"

After a stick of incense, Mo Changsheng left with a thousand-year-old earth element spirit bead.

He walked back to his residence this time, and didn't use to fly.

Mo Changsheng frowned and thought, what was Zhuge Yao thinking in his heart, did he really have to do it as he said?And that Millennium Earth Spirit Orb, did he really give it to him for nothing?

Mo Changsheng has always been unwilling to owe karma, let alone the karma of Zhuge Yao, whose enemy is unknown.It's just that Zhuge Yao acted like I didn't need anything, so Mo Changsheng had no choice but to keep two bottles of the top-grade Zhuyan Pill that he refined himself, and the Yirong Pill that he refined during the Yuanying stage, and the bottle that he looted from Yuan Bai. A piece of high-grade spiritual mine, and then left.

It's not that Mo Changsheng doesn't know the importance of the thousand-year-old earth-type spirit beads, but he knows too well that these millennium-year-old spirit beads of Xiaoyaozong are cruelly imprisoning Princess Qi. When the song weakened, it was pulled out from Princess Qi's body, so once he thought of this, Mo Changsheng didn't care much about the so-called cause and effect of heaven.

If Xiaoyaozong obtained the Millennium Lingzhu through proper means, he would naturally give a small amount, but Xiaoyaozong obviously did not obtain it through normal means, so even if he returned little things, it was not too much.

In any case, it can't compare to Xiaoyaozong.

Mo Changsheng's eyes dimmed, and he quickened his pace again. After returning to his residence, he immediately retreated and integrated the last thousand-year-old earth-type spirit bead into his body.

Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, five elements of spiritual roots, and finally the same thickness and height, are constantly rotating, and in the middle, there is a small serious and serious Mo Changsheng who is meditating.

It was Mo Changsheng's Nascent Soul.

When Mo Changsheng opened his eyes again, it was already early morning of the next day.

At noon, the Xiaoyao Sect will gather many people who participated in the Xiaoyao Secret Realm, and then send them to the place where the Happy Secret Realm is located through the teleportation array, so that they can explore the secret realm.

Mo Changsheng took a deep breath, his peach blossom eyes were full of surprises.

Lord Jiaolong was still listless at first, but when he saw Mo Changsheng woke up, he immediately became happy, quickly climbed onto Mo Changsheng's lap, then hesitated for a moment, seeing that Mo Changsheng didn't respond, he simply followed his sweetheart's arm climbing up...

Although Mo Changsheng was pleasantly surprised, his rationality was still there, and he soon discovered Lord Jiaolong who had mischievous intentions, and immediately caught him with his other arm.

"Didn't I tell you that you are not allowed to crawl around in the shape of a snake?" Mo Changsheng glared at the evil dragon. He originally wanted to throw him away, but thinking of what he was going to say next, he was still reluctant to throw the evil dragon away. Throwing it away, he put the little golden snake in the palm of his hand, calmed down, and said, "Have you seen those medical techniques?"

Master Jiaolong is happily thinking that he is held in the palm of his sweetheart, does it mean that his Changsheng also likes him as much as he likes him?

However, before he was happy for a long time, he was hit by Mo Changsheng's question.

Whether it is a human or a monster, it is obviously not happy to be questioned about a "disease" somewhere.

Moreover, the person who questioned him was not only his sweetheart, but also so well-founded. Lord Jiaolong was heartbroken and angry, but he had nowhere to go, so he could only lie in the palm of his sweetheart, flattering him , stammeringly said: "I, I will cure the disease. Chang Changsheng, when I cure the disease, don't despise me, okay?"

Mo Changsheng just found it funny, nodded the little golden snake's head, and said, "When did I ever dislike you? You were so 'ill' before, didn't I say nothing? It's just..."

Lord Jiaolong cheered up and said, "Just what?"

"It's just that if you are sick, you have to be treated. It's not good to avoid medical treatment when you are sick."

"Yeah, yeah, what Changsheng said is right, I was just thinking about going to the secret realm with Changsheng, so, just go to get medical treatment." Forget about other diseases, this disease is related to whether Changsheng will always like him, Jiaolong How could adults not pay attention to it?

As soon as Mo Changsheng heard it, he knew that the evil dragon really wanted to follow him into the secret realm of happiness.

"Only monks with Hunyuan Linggen can enter the Xiaoyao Secret Realm. How do you enter?"

"Ah?" Master Jiaolong was dumbfounded for a moment, and then whispered, "It's not difficult, I, I will be a long-lived spirit beast. Anyway, I also drove away that stupid fox and bug. The Taoist companion of longevity is also a spirit beast of longevity, okay? Longevity, okay?"

Mo Changsheng was taken aback.

Master Jiaolong continued: "In this way, after Changsheng, I will never be able to leave me again. No matter where I go, I can follow Changsheng and live forever. Let me be the spirit beast of Changsheng! I will be very obedient! "

Mo Changsheng's heart skipped a beat.

How can spirit beasts and companions be compared?

The latter is equal, while the former is the difference between master and servant.No matter how intimate the spirit beast and its master are, the latter can easily detect the former's thoughts, and can order the former to do anything the former does not want to do, but the former can never resist the latter, let alone rely on the latter's liking. Turn your back on the latter.

If Mo Changsheng hadn't been tempted by this evil dragon, he might have agreed immediately - there is a master in the late stage of the tribulation as a spirit beast, who can easily give up this great good thing?

However, at this moment, Mo Changsheng raised his hand high in front of his eyes, making the little golden snake look at him at the same level, and then seriously refused: "No, this is not good."

Lord Jiaolong was confused: "Why is it not good? In the previous life, Changsheng wanted me to be the spirit beast of Changsheng. Why don't you want to now?"

Mo Changsheng said in his heart that it was because he didn't like this evil dragon in his previous life, but since he liked it in this life, then...of course he can't be so harassing.It's just that even if this is the case, Mo Changsheng can't and doesn't want to say that.

"Because," Mo Changsheng smiled slightly, his peach-blossom eyes full of smiles, "I don't want to be the master to find out Mu Sheng's thoughts, I just want to be a Taoist companion and listen to what Mu Sheng said... things that I like about me .”

Master Jiaolong felt that his entire golden body turned red!

"What about Mu Sheng? Do I like you like I like spirit beasts, or do I like Taoist companions... like you?"

……

Needless to say, Lord Jiaolong was soon stunned by Mo Changsheng, and he also felt that being a Taoist companion was better than being a spirit beast, because he felt that once Mo Changsheng became a Taoist companion, he would not be sure how Mo Changsheng liked him How do you like it?

It's just that, "Then I can only use the soul splitting technique and follow the longevity." Master Jiaolong could think of few ways in his head, so he finally said, "Although it's a bit troublesome, it's good to be able to follow the longevity! Chang Changsheng, I will never be separated from you!"

Mo Changsheng: "..." After finally explaining the evil dragon's way of not wanting any spirit beasts, when he heard what the evil dragon was going to use to split the soul, he felt his forehead start to jump.

"The souls obtained from the soul-dividing technique don't have much strength, so staying with me will only increase the burden. Besides, I have a more important thing that I want Mu Sheng to do. Is Mu Sheng willing to do it?" Seeing that The evil dragon hesitated and refused to agree, so Mo Changsheng could only continue, "It's about your illness."

"what?"

"I didn't want to say more before, because I was afraid that you would be sad, Mu Sheng, but now..." Mo Changchang sighed, "But now, I must go to the secret realm of happiness, and Mu Sheng, you happen to be able to stay outside. I had time to do these things outside, so I thought, it’s just right for you to do this. After all, your illness has reached the end of the day. If you can’t find the thousand-year-old vinqin grass within a year, Mu Sheng, you will be in trouble in the future. I can only continue to be 'sick' like this. Although I don't mind being a nominal Taoist partner with you..."

"I'll go find it!" Lord Jiaolong was listening to it with a dull head, but when Mo Changsheng said the last sentence, he immediately jumped up and said, "Chang Changsheng, I'm going to find the Millennium Wenqin Grass, Changsheng, I don't want to be in the name of you Daoist companion!"

The big stone in Mo Changsheng's heart finally fell, and he said, "That's fine. I will also look for the Millennium Wenqin Grass in Xiaoyao Secret Realm. You, Mu Sheng, look for it outside. After a year, we will meet outside Xiaoyao Secret Realm, how about it?"

Lord Jiaolong struggled, he was still a little worried about letting his sweetheart go to the secret realm alone.

Mo Changsheng said: "Didn't I let Xiaoyao Secret Realm accept the owner in the previous life? This life will not be any different. Or, Mu Sheng, do you really want to be my nominal husband?"

Apparently, the words "the couple in name" irritated Master Jiaolong, and Master Jiaolong struggled for a long time before finally agreeing.

He and Changsheng still have a Taoist couple contract, and Changsheng still has his tattooed bodyguard on his arm. If you think about it, nothing will happen if you think about it.

Moreover, what Chang Sheng said was right, he really didn't want to be married only in name with his sweetheart, so that Chang Sheng wouldn't be able to enjoy any pleasure in the bed.

Seeing that noon was approaching, Mo Changsheng was about to catch the snake.

Lord Jiaolong was quite unwilling, he was angry for a while, but he was still reluctant to part with his longevity, so he wrapped it around Mo Changsheng's wrist and refused to take it off.

"Kiss." Lord Jiaolong flattered him, "Kiss me, and I will leave."

"..." Mo Changsheng said helplessly, "There are high-ranking cultivators in the Void Refinement Stage nearby. If you transform into a human form, you may be discovered by them."

Master Jiaolong continued to work hard and said: "Then, then don't transform into a human form, just kiss like this!"

Mo Changsheng: "..."

"Kiss the snake!"

"..."

"Chang Chang Sheng, give me a kiss! Or Chang Sheng, you dislike me as a snake..."

……

At noon, Xiaoyao Sovereign Peak.

When Zhuge Yao saw Mo Changsheng, he saw that Mo Changsheng's handsome face was green.

Zhuge Yao was taken aback, and asked, "What's the matter with Changsheng? Are you afraid of the secret realm?"

Naturally, Mo Changsheng couldn't tell the truth, so he just said with a stiff face, "It's nothing. Sect Leader Zhuge doesn't need to worry about me, you can do your own work."

Zhuge Yao was a little worried.

While greeting other people, he looked at Mo Changsheng from time to time, and found it strange that Mo Changsheng seemed to want to wipe his mouth with the handkerchief several times, but every time he lifted the handkerchief, he would Put it down again.

It’s weird.

Zhuge Yao didn't understand the reason, he only thought that Mo Changsheng was afraid that he would die in the secret realm of Xiaoyao, so he didn't come forward to disturb him.

At noon, he stood in the middle of the main peak with the four major sects and the top sect masters in the middle row of Wuling Continent, and took out the master tokens in their hands together.

The eighteen tokens circled several times in mid-air, and a simple teleportation array appeared on the open space below the mid-air.

"Nine Hunyuan Linggen monks, please join the battle."